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PESHAWAR, Pakistan : Some 40 people have been killed and more than 70 injured in fierce sectarian clashes between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in northern Pakistan, officials said Saturday.
"So far we have received reports that 40 people have been killed in clashes in two days of fighting between two religious groups in Parachinar," said Arif Habib, a top official dealing with security in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Local officials said more than 70 people were also injured in the fighting.
Parachinar, a tribal town close to the Afghan border in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, has a history of sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite communities.
It was placed under curfew on Friday after fighting erupted between the rival groups and troops were deployed to restore order.
Officials said the soldiers had been given shoot-on-sight orders to curb the violence. - AFP/ch
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